Serie A: Napoli slip up as Roma maintain winning streak

All the talk ahead of the mid-week round of Serie A action was focused primarily on Napoli after their impressive win over AC Milan on Sunday night, and they were widely expected to overcome Sassuolo with ease.

Having been hit for seven by Inter Milan at the weekend, the Serie A newcomers have struggled to adapt to Italy’s top flight, but silenced the San Paolo after securing a 1-1 draw.

It was the first time this season that Rafa Benitez had seen his side fail to obtain all three points, but he swiftly reminded everyone that this should be a lesson for his players to learn from.

The Azzurri have made an impressive start to the Spaniard’s first campaign in charge, and after finishing as runners-up last season, they will be expected to quickly recover from the disappointment of Wednesday and get their title charge back on track.

In contrast, there will be no need for recovery in Rome as Rudi Garcia’s side extended their winning streak to five league games with a 2-0 win at Sampdoria.

The Giallorossi were written off at the start of the season after cashing in on the likes of Marquinhos, Erik Lamela and Pablo Osvaldo, but it appears to have only aided their bid to strengthen the general look of the squad.

While supporters were quick to dampen expectations and talk of a Scudetto challenge, with no European distractions this season the capital club have an entire week in between rounds to recover and focus on their next game.

It is a strategy that aided Juventus three years ago, and arguably Napoli before them as they went on re-establish themselves in the upper echelons of Serie A.

Elsewhere, there were further last gasp heroics from AC Milan who scored late goals to salvage a point at Bologna with a 3-3 draw.

With Mario Balotelli absent after receiving a three-game suspension, the Rossoneri were both leaky in defence and wasteful in front of goal. However, given their current injury situation, they will perhaps feel content with their latest comeback.

There have been 31 goals thus far in Serie A this week, and with Inter Milan and Fiorentina set to clash on Thursday night, that figure may well rise further.